TechNet Conference 2026 · Pre-conference extra

Art & Design Open Day

Tours and hands-on making at The Making Centre, Paddington

UNSW Art & Design Paddington campus at night
Tuesday 1 December · Afternoon

Explore the Paddington campus

Spend the afternoon before the conference at UNSW Art & Design's Paddington campus. The Making Centre and School of Art & Design technical teams will open up their workshops and studios, with tours of the spaces and hands-on activities for you to try.

It's a whole-campus experience with lots of different workshops to see, and technical staff looking after every station. Finish the day with the TechNet welcome BBQ.

UNSW Art & Design, Paddington campus
The Making Centre · Corner of Oxford Street & Greens Road, Paddington
Plan for the afternoon

How the day runs

1:30pmArrive

Welcome to UNSW Art & Design

Arrive at the Paddington campus and meet the Making Centre team. Make your own way or catch the university shuttle bus to Paddington. The SIMS Day bus also stops here on its way back.

1:30–4:30pmOpen day

Tours & hands-on making

The campus runs like an open day: guided tours of the workshops (about 45 minutes, up to 30 people per group) run at the same time as drop-in making stations. Explore at your own pace, join a tour, and try as many activities as you like.

4:30pmReception

Welcome BBQ reception

Wind down with the TechNet welcome BBQ at Art & Design and meet fellow delegates before the conference begins.

Hands-on activities

Making stations

Printmaking

Screen printing & zines

Screen print your own design and fold a zine to take home.

30 per session
Ceramics

Wheel throwing

Get your hands in the clay and try throwing on the pottery wheel.

10 per session
Textiles

Human loom

Weave together on a giant collaborative human loom.

Capacity TBC
Fashion

Mini mannequin draping

Learn the basics of draping fabric on a mini mannequin.

25 per session
Jewellery

Hammered lettering & patterning

Stamp letters and patterns into metal in the jewellery studio.

Capacity TBC
Resource Centre + Makerspace

Photography & laser cutting

Large-format photography and laser-cut picture frames.

Capacity TBC
Good to know

Before you go

Enclosed shoesPlease wear enclosed shoes. They're required in the workshops.
Safety firstSome areas are tour-only, with no demonstrations, for safety reasons.
AccessibilityLifts and ramps are located around the campus.
Getting thereMake your own way or catch the university shuttle bus to Paddington.
Places are limited, so add the Art & Design afternoon when you buy your ticket at technetconference2026.com.